Syria, Government Shutdown, Jayme Closs:Your Friday Briefing

We start today with the unexpected start of the U.S. military’s withdrawal from Syria and the latest from the government shutdown, which is now tied for the longest in history. And it’s Friday, so there’s a new news quiz.

U.S. begins withdrawal from Syria

The surprise announcement today by a U.S. military spokesman is the first step in President Trump’s plan to pull roughly 2,000 American troops from the country.

As recently as Sunday, Mr. Trump’s national security adviser, John Bolton, placed conditions on the withdrawal that could leave American forces there for months or even years.

Closer look: Mr. Pompeo’s speech contrasted starkly with a speech in 2009, also in Cairo, by former President Barack Obama, who made an effort to reset relations with the Muslim world in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks and the Iraq war. We compared the two.

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President Trump at the Rio Grande, near McAllen, Tex., on Thursday.CreditDoug Mills/The New York Times

White House sees storm aid as a way to build a wall

The Trump administration is considering diverting $13.9 billion allocated last year for areas damaged by hurricanes and wildfires to pay for a wall on the southwestern border. That’s according to congressional and Defense Department officials with knowledge of the matter, who insisted on anonymity to discuss the possibility.

Officials are debating whether they could make such a move without a declaration of a national emergency. President Trump has repeatedly said he might declare one in order to bypass Congress, where Democrats have declined to fund a wall.

The Daily: On today’s episode, hear from a sheriff in Arizona who supports Mr. Trump’s plans.

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David Nunnery, a dairy farmer in Mississippi, supports President Trump. “I may lose the farm, but I strongly feel we need some border security,” Mr. Nunnery said.CreditEmily Kask for The New York Times

Government shutdown nears a record

The partial closure that has resulted from the impasse over a border wall would become the longest in history on Saturday. Most of the 800,000 federal workers involved will miss a paycheck today.

On Thursday, Vice President Mike Pence made clear that President Trump would not support a deal to reopen the government before wall funding was secured. “No wall, no deal,” Mr. Pence said.

Impact: Farmers have generally stood by President Trump, but some say the loss of crucial loans, payments and other services during the shutdown is threatening their support.

Oceans are warming faster than we thought

The oceans have been absorbing most of the heat trapped by greenhouse gas emissions, offering a buffer against climate change. The escalating temperatures are already killing off marine ecosystems, raising sea levels and making hurricanes more destructive.

The background: Historically, understanding ocean temperatures has been difficult. A 2014 U.N. report presented five estimates, all showing less ocean warming than the levels projected by computer climate models. The new analysis incorporates more recent data, and its results are more in line with the models.

If you have 35 minutes, this is worth it

The nature of beauty

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CreditKenji Aoki for The New York Times

For decades, the centerpiece of evolutionary theory has been that creatures with the most advantageous traits have the best chance of multiplying. Beauty — so far as a reproductive mate was concerned — was merely a shorthand for those traits.

Here’s what else is happening

Missing girl is found: Jayme Closs, 13, disappeared in October on the night that her parents were shot to death in their rural Wisconsin home. She was found alive on Thursday, the authorities said. A suspect was in custody.

Huawei arrest: The Polish authorities have charged a Chinese employee of Huawei, the telecommunications giant, and a Polish national with spying for China, officials said today. The arrests come as the U.S. and its allies have tried to restrict the use of Chinese technology based on espionage fears.

Inauguration scrutiny: Federal prosecutors are investigating at leasta dozen Ukrainians who were present during President Trump’s inaugural festivities. Some of them, or their allies, are thought to have promoted proposals aligned with Russia’s interests.

Snapshot: Above,Venezuelans at the inauguration of President Nicolás Maduro, who was sworn in on Thursday for a second term. He has been able to retain power despite a plummeting economy, skyrocketing violence and an election that was widely seen as illegitimate.

Late-night comedy: Jimmy Fallon discussed the government shutdown. “Everyone’s fighting. People are exhausted. There’s no end in sight. It’s basically like playing a game of Monopoly with your family.”

What we’re reading: This reprint of an article in Appalachia, a mountaineering and conservation journal. “You’re hiking high up a frigid mountain, storm clouds are gathering, and you come across a trail of fresh prints in the snow, made by someone in decidedly unwinter-y sneakers,” writes Michael Wines, a national correspondent. “What would you do? This woman did what many would not. It’s quite a yarn.”

Now, a break from the news

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CreditJulia Gartland for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Ali Slagle.

Smarter Living: Revolving doors were invented during the late 19th century to cut back on fumes and dirt in larger buildings. Over time, they’ve proven to be real energy savers: Used enough, one can save enough carbon emissions to heat five houses.

The Irregulars’ dinner tonight is part of a five-day celebration in Manhattan featuring a lecture, a memorabilia sale and parties with other groups of Sherlock Holmes fans, including the Baker Street Babes. (The first female members of the Irregulars weren’t admitted until the early 1990s.)

Thank youTo Eleanor Stanford for marshaling the cultural guidance and James K. Williamson for his swinging Smarter Living tips. Chris himself wrote today’s Back Story. You can reach the team at briefing@nytimes.com.

Chris Stanford is based in London and writes the U.S. version of the Morning Briefing. He also compiles a weekly news quiz. He was previously a producer for the desktop home page and mobile site, helping to present The New York Times’s news report to readers. Before joining The Times in 2013, he was an editor and designer at The Washington Post and other news organizations. @stanfordc